McRobbie, Harris greet President Obama in Kokomo

campus-news

November 23, 2010

KOKOMO, Ind. – President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden visited Kokomo on Tuesday, November 23, as part of their Main Street Tour to recognize the positive impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

During the visit, President Obama announced that Chrysler will invest more than $800 million to build a new generation of transmissions, paying for equipment to modernize the two transmission factories and the casting plant.

Indiana University President Michael McRobbie and IU Kokomo Chancellor Michael Harris had the opportunity to meet the President and Vice President during their tour of the Chrysler transmission plant two. During the conversation, Obama emphasized the importance of education and research for the country, and acknowledged the important role of IU in this regard.

“I was very pleased to share with President Obama IU’s record-breaking research funding total of $604 million last year, and thanked him for his strong support for science, technology, and research,” said President McRobbie. “Indiana University is committed to doing all that it can to support the recovery of the Indiana economy through innovation and research.”

At IU Kokomo, Chancellor Harris echoed their comments, stating the importance of higher education in creating a workforce “prepared to deal with the economy of the future, with the economy of innovation, with the economy of knowledge.”

“Through innovative education programs and courses, IU Kokomo will positively impact our surrounding communities. We will be very intentional in providing current and relevant knowledge and skills needed to assure the well-being of our region,” Harris said. “This is one of many steps IU Kokomo is taking to directly fill the educational needs of north central Indiana as we transform the region.”

Following President Obama’s visit, President McRobbie and Chancellor Harris met with Sergio Marchionne, current CEO of Fiat S.p.A., and Chrysler Group LLC. He is also chairman of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, and the chairman of SGS.

President McRobbie stressed the commitment of IU and the Kokomo campus to support the educational, research and professional development needs of the evolving workforce. In response, Marchionne reinforced that advanced technology needs are crucial to Chrysler’s future and will require new skills.